Non-native species of Euphorbia in Tunisia
Surveys conducted since 2015 in Tunisia in areas of salty wetlands and along railways have identified new records of non-native shrubby taxa of the genus Euphorbia. Three species E. cotinifolia subsp. cotinoides, E. cooperi var. cooperi, and E. cyathophora are new casual records for the Mediterranean area. E. canariensis is a new record as a casual species for Africa, and E. trigona and E. milii var. splendens are new casual records for North Africa. Moreover, E. pulcherrima is first reported as a non-native of continental North Africa and E. tirucalli is reported for the second time as an established non-native species in Tunisia.
Table 1. Non-native Euphorbia species in Tunisia.
Species | Native range | Notes on occurrence in Tunisia |
Euphorbia canariensis | Canary Islands | Edge of an area where many Opuntia species are growing, within Tunis region (North-East Tunisia). |
Euphorbia cotinifolia subsp. cotinoides | Americas | Roadside close to planted ornamentals, Tabarka, Jendouba (North-West Tunisia). |
Euphorbia cooperi | Southern Africa | Edges of the metro railway in Monastir (Central East Tunisia). |
Euphorbia heterophylla var. cyathophora | Americas | Few individuals growing with native species in oasis Douz, Kebili (South-West Tunisia). |
Euphorbia milii var. splendens | Madagascar | Coastal slopes in the Monastir region, escape from ornamental plantings (Central East Tunisia). |
Euphorbia pulcherrima | Americas | Roadside populations and waste ground in Monastir (Central East Tunisia). |
Euphorbia tirucalli | Africa | Edge of railway growing with ruderal plants also near plantations of Opuntia ficus-indica (Central West Tunisia). |
Euphorbia trigona | Africa | Roadside in the region of Monastir (Central East Tunisia). |
Sources
El Mokni R (2023) Non-native shrubby species of Euphorbia (Euphorbiaceae) in Tunisia. Flora Mediterranea 33, 17-29.